Unit 4 Christian Ethics Test

Principle

Baseline, biblical thinking, how does Scripture speak to this issue?

Personal

Where I am coming from- what experiences past and present are shaping their worldview?

Pastoral

Love and care for people, how do we practically care for people who are impacted by this issue

Public

Cultural implications, what does this issue reveal about our culture, how should Christians respond?

Policy

Legal implications, what kind of society are certain laws and policies seeking to make possible?

Prophetic

Truth to power- how do we speak up for people who are overlooked because of the way and issue is being handled

Genesis 9:6 (Noahic Covenant)

Equality and Justice for people when dealing with punishments, we are made in God's image

Exodus 21

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth

Lex Talionis

Law of retribution/retaliation (Exodus 21). Punishment fit for the crime; justice, not revenge

Matthew 5:38-42

This is apart of the Sermon on the Mount, "you have heard it said" is repeated, Lex Christi, turn the other cheek

Romans 13

Christians can promote the death penalty as directed by God

Murder

The intentional taking of innocent human life with premeditation, strategy, and malice. Involves thought, planning, and hatred.

Voluntary Manslaughter

Desire to kill still exists, sense of provocation is increased (something that makes them lose self-control)

Involuntary Manslaughter

No intent to kill, the killer does not imply any premeditation to kill nor is provoked to act. The issue is with negligence

Numbers 35

"If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with and iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death"

Mosaic Covenant

Provides the death penalty to be inflicted upon those persons convicted to adultery, bestiality, or blasphemy

Deuteronomy 25: 1-3

"but the judge must not impose more than fourth lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, you fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes"

Arguments against Capital Punishment

1. The death penalty is barbaric and cruel punishment, hardly the measure of a civilized society
2. The death penalty is illogical: in order to show that killing is wrong, we are going to take the people who kill other people and subsequently kill them
3. Life imprisonment would send a stronger message against violent crime, because then the criminal would have to live bearing the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life
4. The death penalty has been administered to innocent people who have been wrongly accused and put to death
5. No matter what, the death penalty will never provide true closure for the victim's family
6. The Old Testament legitimacy of capital punishment is superseded by Jesus' command of forgiveness in Matthew 5:39

Arguments for Capital Punishment

1. In the US, lethal injection is the method of execution means we are moving away from cruel and barbaric methods
2. It is wrong to take innocent human life, when a murderer commits his act, he forfeits his innocence
3. If we imprison murderers for life, justice is not fully exact, justice should be proportional and swift
4. Due to new technology, we can eliminate almost all doubt about the guilt of the accused
5. The death penalty will create closure for the family although it does not heal the family's heart break
6. Matthew 5:39 has to do with being insulted and not in life-threatening violence

Conception View

Life begins when the sperm and the egg meet

Critical Organs View

There is a heart, brain, and central nervous system, this is around 6 weeks

Viability

A good chance when the child can survive outside of the womb, it could be born premature

Birth View

The fetus becomes a human right at birth

Post-birth

When it is aware of itself as a living body over a period of time, it can desire and plan for things, must want to go on living, and is a decision making being who can distinguish between suffering and satisfaction

Passive Euthanasia

A hands off mentality, nobody is doing anything to speed up dying, lets nature take its course, the key question is: can we save ____'s life?

Assisted Suicide

A physician gives a drug that will help a person end their life, this is talking about death with dignity

Arguments for Assisted Suicide

1. It is morally wrong for a dying person have to endure so much suffering
2. People have a choice to decide when they want to die and what to do with their bodies
3. There is a lot of emotional trama when it comes to watching your family member suffer
4. Medical care should be truly compassionate, we shouldn't focus so much time on people who's situations are irreversible

Arguments against Assisted Suicide

1. Suffering can be redemptive, there are teachable moments through pain
2. Doctors can be wrong when assuming the patient will not recover
3. We do not truly have free autonomy and freedom over our bodies, God constructed us
4. How can we determine the point where it is not worth living a life
5. There is a slippery slope with were does the exceptions for assisted death stop?

What percent of the world's population lives with disabilities?

15% of the world

How do many people feel when they interact with people with disabilities?

Most people feel uncomfortable when talking or interacting

Meaning of the work euthanasia in Greek

Good death

What does Jesus show to those with disabilities?

Compassion

What is one way that people with disabilities are offered equal opportunities through the Americans With Disabilities Act

Through the law and no discrimination

_________ is one way people with disabilities endure pain and hardship

Through communication and contact with others, also getting a job helps out too

What is the unemployment rate for those with disabilities?

66% and going down

______ is the procedure to assist in the conception of a child

IVF (In-vitro fertilization)

______ deals with concerns about discrimination and consumerism

Reprogenetics

_______ has a well-meaning motive to become aware of genetic disorders earlier

Reprogenetics

______ is the process of prenatal diagnosis made available for couples

Reprogenetics

______: well-meaning motive is to help couples struggling to have children

IVF

_______: well-meaning motive is to increase personal capabilities

Trans-humanism

______: desire to use science to enhance human intellect and activity

Trans-humanism

_____: concern about which source has the highest pluripotency and stability

Stem cell activity

______: for the purposes of discovering cures for longstanding diseases

Stem cell activity

________: concern about the limits and uniqueness of human beings

Trans-humanism

_______: well meaning motive is to cure diseases like Parkinson's

Stem cell activity

_______: concern about treating human life— even at the smallest stages— as a commodity

IVF

In-vitro Fertilization

A series of procedures designed to assist in the conception of a child

Stem Cell Activity

Mainly for the purposes of discovering cures for longstanding diseases and afflictions, this technology collects stem cells, cells from which over two hundred different tissues in the human body originate

Reprogenetics

The process by which couples can go through a process of prenatal diagnosis, testing prenatal tissue in embryos to scene for different diseases and then select the one without the afflicted traits

Trans-humanism

A radical new vision of humanity (also know as post-humanism)

Who said that unwanted embryos should be destroyed and not brought to full term

Aristotle

Psalm 139: 13-14

"God knitted me together in my mother's womb"

Didache on Abortion

To have an abortion is murder, do not abort your child

Deutoronomy 5:17

Talks about that you shall not murder

Pro-Abortion

Viewpoint that abortion should be an unrestricted right for any woman at any stage

Pro-life

All life, womb to tomb is sacred and must be kept that way

Pro-choice

Viewpoint that abortion should be safe, legal, and rare, this is also up to the woman

What is one of the two main reasons God allow the death penalty in ancient Israel

To preserve the dignity and worth of human beings

True or False: If we are committed to bringing God's shalom into the world, we need to carefully consider and seek to address the conditions that lead to violence

True